Racing: Emperor seeks throne

Racehorse Roman Emperor. Photo / Getty Images

Derby winner Roman Emperor is looking for a home with connections hopeful they can find a suitable stud for the 2010 season.

The son of Montjeu has been the subject of interest but as yet no permanent base has been selected for the 2009 AJC Australian Derby winner.

He was part of a memorable Caulfield Cup quinella last year, finishing second to his Bart Cummings-trained stablemate Viewed, but had his mind on other things during the autumn.

He was a notable omission from the feature race entries for this year but part-owner Dato Tan Chin Nam's bloodstock manager Duncan Ramage said he had been retired fit and healthy.

"Roman Emperor is looking for a base to stand at stud this year," Ramage said.

"There have been some discussions but nothing has been finalised.

"He really didn't get into his racing in the autumn. He seemed more interested in being a stallion than a racehorse.

"There has been a lot of interest in Nom du Jeu in New Zealand.

"They are similar sorts of horses so I think there would be interest here."

The similarities between Nom du Jeu and Roman Emperor don't stop with the looks or their sire.

Nom du Jeu won the the AJC Australian Derby in 2008 and, like Roman Emperor, he finished second in the Caulfield Cup the following spring.

Roman Emperor is a half-brother to New Zealand stakeswinner Rios who finished eighth in Nom du Jeu's Derby run on a heavy track.

After four seasons shuttling to New Zealand, Montjeu was kept at home in Ireland by Coolmore.

He stood from 2001 to 2004 at Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand and produced Nom du Jeu and Roman Emperor from his final two Southern Hemisphere crops.

- AAP